Russell E. Lynch, 81, Loved music, poetry, and people

Mr. Lynch was born November 2, 1922 in Columbus, Ohio, and lived in Avon Lake for the past 41 years.

Mr. Lynch was a 1940 graduate of Gambier High School. While in high school, he was an All Ohio basketball player, playing on two championship teams. He attended 2� years of College at Kenyon College on a Basketball Scholarship, where he studied history and political science in pursuit of an education degree. At Kenyon he was named to the All Ohio Conference Basketball Team. He also played football at Kenyon College. He then transferred to Capital University, Columbus, also on a Basketball Scholarship. He graduated in 1946 with a BS in Education. While at Capital, Mr. Lynch was again named to the Capital University Hall of Fame. He continued his education at Rutgers University, Akron University and Kent State University.

In 1946 Mr. Lynch began his teaching and coaching career at Hamilton Twp. Schools, Columbus, Ohio. In 1947-1948, he worked as a teacher and coach at his high School Alma Mater, Gambier High School. He then taught and coached at Lancaster ST. Mary’s High School for three years before moving to Clearview High School, where his 1954-55 basketball team won the Lakeshore League championship. From 1956 to 1963, Mr. Lynch was a teacher, athletic director, assistant football coach and basketball coach at Oberlin High School. In 1957-1958 the basketball team won the Southwest Conference championship and Coach Lynch was named SWC Coach of the Year. In 1963 the team won SWC and the sectional tournament, and Lynch was again named the SWC Coach of the Year. In 1963 Mr. Lynch’s teaching and coaching career took him to the Avon Lake City Schools. At Avon Lake, he continued to coach and teach. He coached boys’ basketball from 1963-1968 and under his leadership the 1964 boys basketball team won the conference championship, and he was once again named coach of the year. Mr. Lynch then became the head coach of the Avon Lake Shoregals Basketball Team, leading them to the SWC Championship and Coach of the Year honors in 1982-1983. Mr. Lynch was inducted into the Lorain County Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Besides his success as a coach, Mr. Lynch was also a well-respected and accomplished educator. He started the Occupational Work Experience Program at Avon Lake High School in 1973. He was elected the first president of the Ohio O.W.E. Coordinators Association, and for the 1983-1984 school year, Mr. Lynch was the O.W.E. teacher of the year. He taught “The O.W.E. Experience” at Kent State University to all incoming O.W.E. teachers.

In 1985, Mr. Lynch retired from teaching, and in 1989 he retired from the athletic department.

Mr. Lynch served as a member of the Avon Lake City Council from 1978 to 1985 and president of council from 1980 to his retirement in 1985.

While in Oberlin Mr. Lynch was a Kiwanian, and for the past several years he was an active member of the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club. He served as the chair of the Community Service Committee. Under his chairmanship, Mr. Lynch was the mastermind, promoter, and driving force for the Kiwanis Club to secure $12,500 for the memorial Buckeye trees planted along the bicycle trail, known as the Kiwanis Buckeye Trail at Bicentennial Park in Avon Lake.

Mr. Lynch spent summers at Bay Point in Marblehead, Ohio where he was a member of the Bay Point Yacht Club fro 24 years. He was also a member of the Erie Shores Photography Club. He loved music, mostly Jazz and Big Band Music, as well as Classical Music. He also had a love of poetry, collecting various poems, and creating a history of “Who Said Its?” e-mailing them weekly to family and friends. Lastly, Mr. Lynch loved people, evidently by his commitment to students and the community.

Mr. Lynch is survived by his wife of 60 years, Vesta K. (nee Keyes), whom he married November 23, 1943. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Michael C. Lynch (Maggie) of Pittsville, Virginia, and a daughter, Sue A Burrhill (Thomas) of Medina, Ohio. Other survivors include 6 grandchildren: Brian Lynch, Jennifer Lynch, Tom Burrhill, Lorie Burhill, Sarah Lynch, and Jessica Lynch; and a brother, James Lynch of Erie, Pennsylvania.

He is preceded in death by a son; Russell E. Lynch, Jr., a brother; Kenneth Lynch, and his parents; James W. and Consuelo (nee Parker) Lynch.

A memorial visitation will be held Friday, July 30 at the Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon-Belden Rd., Avon Lake, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A memorial service will be held in the Avon Lake High School Auditorium, 175 Avon-Belden Rd., Avon Lake, Saturday, July 31 at 2 p.m.